Tag Archive for: credit score

4 Ways Bad Credit Impacts Loans for Real Estate Investors

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Ease of funding makes real estate investing easy or hard. Here are 4 ways bad credit impacts loans.

In our 20+ year history in the lending world, we continually see credit usage as the #1 thing keeping real estate investors from obtaining the best funding possible.

Credit is the main reason funding is granted or denied. To win this game, you need to understand this and work to put yourself in the best position to succeed.

Let’s go over 4 ways that bad credit impacts loans and what you need to succeed.

The 4 Ways Bad Credit Impacts Loans

The 4 most negative potential impacts due to low credit scores for real estate investors are:

  1. Being denied a loan (so you can’t purchase or refinance a property)
  2. Cash flow takes a hit with higher rates, around 1-4%
  3. Higher closing costs, around .5 to 2%
  4. Being required to put more money down on a property (lower LTV on loans)

Let’s dive in to what each of these means for an investor.

1. Bank Turn Down

If lenders won’t lend to you, then it’s almost impossible to invest and make money. No loan, no property – no property, no investing.

Sometimes this means no one will lend to you with bad credit. Other times, you can squeeze in, but pay more than your competitor.

2. Paying Higher Interest Rates

Paying higher rates brings a lot of setbacks.

With a bad credit score, you might need to go to a different type of lender who will charge more. If not that, then you’ll at least be dropped to a lower lending tier (ie, higher interest rate) with the cheaper lender.

In any case, you’ll feel the hit of higher rates in your cash flow.

To show this, here’s an example of a 2.5% difference in rate on a $300,000 mortgage:

  • Rate of 6.25% = monthly payment of $1,847.15
  • Rate of 8.75% = monthly payment of $2,360.10

An investor with a 680 score might get the 8.75% rate. Another investor with a 780 could get closer to 6.25%. That’s over $500 more per month one investor pays versus the other.

More money means more you can re-invest. Another example of why it is easier to succeed with better funding.

3. Paying Higher Fees

Almost every lender has pricing tiers. These tiers are usually tied to credit scores in some way.

The lower the score, the higher the cost of the loan. With bad credit, some lenders jack up the rate and others jack up the fees.

These fees typically come in tiers similar to this one from a bridge lender:

In this example, on a $300,000 loan, you will pay an extra $1,500 to $3,000 more than your competitor with great credit for the same loan.

4. Lower LTV Funding

Credit score is the main reason some investors can get away with only putting 10% (or even 0%) into a project while others have to bring in up to 25%.

In our $300,000 property example:

  • At 10% down, you bring in $30,000
  • At 25% down, you bring in $75,000

That extra $45,000 could keep you out of deals and or limit the number of deals you could have going at a time.

Keep Bad Credit from Impacting Loans

Overall, we need funding to succeed in real estate. The cheaper, easier, and faster it is, the more opportunities and success it creates. Bad credit impacts the loans you can get for your investments.

Check out these other tips to quickly raise your credit score on our YouTube channel.

You can also send us an email anytime with questions about your credit and real estate investing loans at Info@TheCashFlowCompany.com.

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How to Use a 0% Business Credit Card in Real Estate Investing

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Loans won’t cover your real estate project and you don’t have cash? Here’s how to use a 0% business credit card.

At The Cash Flow Company, we’ve used business credit cards for our investments for over 12 years.

The people here have used them, we’ve helped other people use them, and we understand first-hand that this is a great tool for investors.

Why are they so great?

Why We Recommend 0% Business Credit Cards for Real Estate

Typically, the more money you have to put into a transaction, the better the terms you’re going to get on a loan. When you show that you have other lines of credit (or cash) available, lenders can open up doors that are otherwise closed for you.

When it comes to lines of credit – why pay 20%+ interest rates when there are 0-3% card options available to you?

The Right Way to Use a 0% Business Credit Card

In real estate investing, you always need money. You have a money bucket that constantly needs refilled. This is just one way to fill it.

Using unsecured lines of credit is perfect for the right investor – someone who can treat the credit like a business.

You have to stay on top of unsecured credit. If you put expenses on your cards, then you have to pay it off when the property sells. 

Using a 0% business credit card to fund your personal life leads to nothing but trouble. Misusing unsecured credit in this way is what gives it a bad name.

Investors who use this method get new credit cards every year with new 0% offers. Many investors use them as a stepping stone for the first year or two of their career. Leaning on credit cards early on eventually gets you the funds to move onto more secured or dependable financing sources later.

How Do You Get 0% Credit Cards?

Curious about how to use 0% credit cards for your real estate investing business? Here are some options with the folks at Fund & Grow that could be right for you.

If you want to put business credit in your name and get up to $250,000, we have a service just for you. Reach out at Info@TheCashFlowCompany.com for more information.

Read the full article here.

Watch the video here:

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Is Credit Usage Wrecking Your Real Estate Leverage?

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Make real estate leverage easy or hard… Your score, your choice.

Leverage is the secret to successful real estate investing. What they say is true: it takes money to make money.

The cheaper, easier, and faster your real estate leverage, the more you’ll enjoy investing.

The number one factor in how cheap, easy, and fast real estate leverage is? Your credit score. Let’s go over how that works.

How Credit Score Impacts Real Estate Leverage

A good credit score will help you find an affordable loan – even if your experience or income is limited. The better the score, the more doors will open for you.

Barriers fall away as your credit score rises. The loan you get with a 780 score is much simpler and cheaper than the one you’d get with a 640 score.

  • Cheaper money means you’ll make bigger profits with your deals.
  • Easier money means less paperwork and hoops to jump through.
  • Faster money allows you to take advantage of good deals when they pop up.

To succeed in real estate investing, you want all three working for your leverage.

Credit Usage vs Real Estate Leverage

Good investors pay their bills on time every month, keep a mix of credit, and practice other good habits that make up their credit score.

One of the most common obstacles that keeps good investors from the best money sources, however, is credit usage.

Credit usage is a percentage that says how much of your credit limit you’re using. Many investors use their personal credit cards to cover the costs of their investment properties. But this usage lowers personal credit scores and raises the cost of doing business.

Poor credit usage is a hidden enemy sabotaging many investors’ careers.

Winning Against Usage

If you’re in this real estate leverage game to win, then you need to understand the rules to win.

Rule #1: Keep your credit score up and your cost of funds down. 

One way to do this is to get credit cards off your personal name and into your business name. This allows you to continue using credit cards for projects, but they won’t impact your score in a negative way.

Keeping your credit score safe allows you to obtain cheaper, easier, and faster funding not only for your business but the rest of your life, too. Don’t let your investing business drive up your cost of living.

Where To Go From Here

If you want to learn more about how to obtain business credit cards you can find some great information on our blog.

Check out other real estate leverage information on our YouTube channel.

You can always send us an email anytime with questions about your credit and real estate investing loans at Info@TheCashFlowCompany.com.

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Real Estate Investing, Credit Usage, and Your FICO Credit Score

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How do they come up with your FICO credit score? And why is it such a big deal?

Usage is a big deal when it comes to your credit score.

But it’s not the largest factor in determining your credit score.

Let’s go over what parts make up your FICO credit score.

What Makes Up My FICO Credit Score?

What’s the biggest factor in your credit score? 

Your payment history accounts for 35%.

Are you making payments on time? Are you skipping payments? If so, this will tank your FICO credit score.

If you’re a real estate investor or business owner who does not have a good payment history, then there’s only one thing that can help that: Change your habits. Make all payments on time.

The next biggest factor, at 30% is credit usage. Credit usage and payment history together make up 65% of your credit score.

Here are all the other considerations that go into your FICO score:

  • Credit History: How long you have had credit? – 15%
  • New Credit: How many new accounts and inquiries? – 10%
  • Credit Mix: Do you have a variety of types of debt? – 10%

Pay Attention to Usage

If you’re paying your bills on time, then usage is the largest factor in your credit score.

But how do you keep real estate investment project and your business moving along without being able to use your full credit limit?

One suggestion to this problem is to move those personal cards over to your business. This way, you can still use them, but you don’t have the negative impact on your credit score.

How to Help Your Credit Score

Leverage is king for investors. A major factor in getting leverage and loans is your credit score.

A low FICO credit score is a costly issue for investors.

Check out these other tips to quickly raise your credit score on our YouTube channel.

Send us an email anytime with questions about your credit and real estate investing loans at Info@TheCashFlowCompany.com.

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Unsecured Lines of Credit for Real Estate: Explained

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Don’t be afraid. Unsecured lines of credit can be a valuable tool for real estate investors.

0% credit cards scare some people off. When used correctly for a business, however, there’s nothing to be nervous about.

Unsecured lines of credit can be a great tool to lower your cost and open up other forms of lending. In this post, we’ll go over how to successfully use 0% business credit cards and other unsecured credit to gain leverage for real estate investing.

Why We Recommend Unsecured Lines of Credit

At The Cash Flow Company, we’ve used business credit cards for our investments for over 12 years. The people here have used them, we’ve helped other people use them, and we understand first-hand that this is a great tool for investors.

Why are they so great?

Typically, the more money you have to put into a transaction, the better the terms you’re going to get on a loan. When you show that you have other lines of credit (or cash) available, lenders can open up doors that are otherwise closed for you.

When it comes to lines of credit – why pay 20%+ interest rates when there are 0-3% card options available to you?

Let’s look at three ways these credit cards and lines of credit can energize your business.

1. Using for Reserves or Down Payment

If you have unsecured lines, or even 0% credit cards, and move the money over to accounts, then you could use those funds as reserves or a down payment.

The more money you can put in as a down payment, the better your rate, terms, and cash flow will be. Maybe funds from a credit card could allow you to put 10% rather than 5% down. This change could lower your interest rate by 1-2%.

Lenders give better rates to lower loan-to-value deals – especially for bridge loans. Take advantage of this by using unsecured credit to get more money.

2. Saving Money on Interest

Typical interest rates on credit cards are around 19-29%.

Say you put $25,000 on a 24% credit card for an investment project. Over the course of a year, that’s about $6,000 in interest. Multiply that by however many projects you complete in a year, and the costs add up fast.

0% business credit cards just make sense. With these, you can pay $0 in interest for your first year or two, rather than an astronomically high 29%.

3. Protecting Your Credit Score

When you use credit cards on your personal account, the usage negatively affects your credit score. You can’t get great loans from banks and private lenders with a bad credit score.

These 0% credit cards and other unsecured lines should be put under your business name, not your personal name. When you use an LLC, this credit usage comes off your personal credit report.

The Right Way to Use Unsecured Lines of Credit

In real estate investing, you always need money. You have a money bucket that constantly needs refilled. This is just one way to fill it.

Using unsecured lines of credit is perfect for the right investor – someone who can treat the credit like a business.

With unsecured credit, you have to stay on top of it. If you put it on your cards, then you should pay it off when the property sells. 

Using a 0% business credit card to fund your personal life leads to nothing but trouble. Misusing unsecured credit in this way is what gives it a bad name.

Investors who use this method get new credit cards every year with new 0% offers. Many investors use them as a stepping stone for the first year or two of their career. Leaning on credit cards early on eventually gets you the funds to move onto more secured or dependable financing sources later.

How Do You Get 0% Credit Cards & Unsecured Lines of Credit?

Curious about how to use 0% credit cards for your real estate investing business? Fund & Grow has some options for business credit that may be right for you.

If you want to put business credit in your name and get up to $250,000, we have a service just for you. Reach out at Info@TheCashFlowCompany.com for more information.

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Credit Myth-Busting: Credit Card Usage Percentage

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Your credit card usage percentage is NOT the amount of debt you owe.

Usage is a percentage based on the amount of credit you have used compared to the amount available. It is not based on the amount of debt you owe.

Two people with the same job, age, gender, etc., can have the same amount of debt, but their credit scores can be completely different.

How does it work?

How Credit Card Usage Percentage Works

Let’s take these two similar people and break down their credit:

  • They both owe $1,000 on credit cards
  • Person A has a credit limit of $1,200
  • Person B has a credit limit of $5,000

It doesn’t matter that they owe the same amount. What matters is that what they owe in relation to their limit.

So:

  • Person A has a credit usage of 83.33% ($1,000 owe/$1,200 limit)
  • Person B has a credit usage of 20% ($1,000 owe/$5,000 limit)

They owe the same amount, but Person A’s usage of 83.33% will negatively impact their score. Meanwhile, Person B’s 20% credit usage percentage will positively impact their score.

How to Avoid the Risks of a High Credit Usage Percentage

So if you can only use 20% of your credit limit before hurting your score… What’s the point of having a credit card at all?

As a real estate investor, the best way to help your score is move your credit card debt to a business card.

The second helpful step is to call your credit card company and ask them to raise your limits. This one trick will automatically raise your score (and lower your usage percentage!).

Other Credit Tips

Check out these other tips to quickly raise your credit score on our YouTube channel.

Send us an email anytime with questions about your credit and real estate investing loans at Info@TheCashFlowCompany.com.

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What Is Credit Usage? (And Why It Matters)

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Your credit score is key to gaining leverage. But usage is key to your score. So what is credit usage?

In simple terms, usage is the amount you have outstanding on your credit cards (and loans) compared to the maximum credit limit the banks have granted you.

Still confusing? Let’s break down exactly how credit usage works.

What Is Credit Usage?

Let’s look at an example with easy-to-follow numbers: 

  • You have a credit card with a limit of $2,000 and a balance of $1,000. (Aka, you’ve put $1,000 worth of purchases on this card. You’re allowed to put up to $2,000 on it.)
  • This means your credit usage is 50% ($1,000/$2,000). So you’ve borrowed 50% of the amount you’re allowed to borrow.

How Does Usage Impact Credit Score?

The higher your usage, the lower your credit score.

In other words, the higher your balances compared to your available credit, the worse your credit score.

If you put a lot of purchases on a credit card, or take a lot from a HELOC or other line of credit, compared to how much of that credit you can use up, then it will negatively impact your score.

What is the Best Usage for Your Credit Score?

Ideal usage is 20% or less. However, ideal usage is not 0%.

You should always use some credit, but never all. To get ideal usage on our example credit card with a $2,000 limit, you should keep around $400 on the card.

Does Credit Usage Matter to Investors?

Usage is the number one factor that holds back real estate investors from getting affordable loans. That’s because usage makes up 30% of what determines your credit score.

Note: Credit usage is not the only factor in your credit score. 35% of your score is determined by how you make (or do not make) your payments. If you’re paying late, or not making payments at all, then you will not have a good score or find affordable loans.

What Is Credit Usage? – How to Learn More

Concerned about your credit? Want to learn more about your credit score and your investing career?

Check out our YouTube videos about credit.

Send us an email anytime with questions about your credit and real estate investing loans at Info@TheCashFlowCompany.com.

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Unlock Better DSCR Loan Terms with These Credit Score Strategies

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What you need to know about DSCR loan credit score requirements.

DSCR lenders do have credit score requirements. Your credit score is a crucial factor lenders consider when evaluating your loan application.

Credit is a way to put a number to how safe it is to loan to you. We call this “creditworthiness,” and it’s based on your credit history and financial behavior.

A higher credit score can significantly improve your chances of getting a DSCR loan and securing favorable terms, such as a lower interest rate and a higher loan-to-value (LTV).

DSCR Loans and Credit Score’s Impact

Here’s how your credit score can impact your loan options:

  • A credit score of 740 or above can get you a higher LTV ratio and lower interest rate.
  • A credit score between 700 and 739 may still qualify you for a loan with competitive terms.
  • A credit score below 700 might make it more difficult to get approved for a loan, or could result in higher interest rates and lower LTVs.

For example, a 740 score may get you an LTV that is 5-10% higher than a 640 score, and an interest rate that is .5-2% lower.

How to Improve Your DSCR Loan Credit Score

If you’re applying for a DSCR loan, a credit score below 700 might not cut it. It’s a good idea to take steps to improve your credit. 

Here are some ways to do that:

  • Pay down credit card balances: Putting all renovation costs on credit cards can drag down your credit score. To avoid this, consider getting a private loan that won’t show up on your credit report to pay down your balances. A better credit score can also lead to better rates for long-term financing.
  • Use an authorized user: If you have a family member or friend with good, long-established credit, ask them to add you as an authorized user. This can help boost your credit score.
  • Pay your bills on time: Payment history is a key factor in your credit score. Make sure to pay all your bills, including credit cards and loans, on time. Consolidating your accounts can also help you stay organized and avoid missed payments.
  • Keep open credit accounts: Even if you stop using an account, as long as it has a good history, it will continue to add a little boost to your credit.

By following these tips, you can improve your credit score and increase your chances of getting approved for a DSCR loan with favorable terms.

You can also download this free credit score checklist to get your credit score where it needs to be for your DSCR loans.

Read the full article here.

Watch the video here:

https://youtu.be/va6u-azRkFQ

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Credit score and investing

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How Your Credit Score is Robbing You

What a credit score is and why you should care (if you care about your investments). Your credit score and investing

There’s a magical triple-digit number that seems to decide your fate in this world.

It can determine what car you drive, where you live, and how much money you can have at your disposal.

And in some cases, it can make or break your success as a real estate investor.

It’s your credit score.

But it’s not as magical as it seems. There’s a logic to your score, and you have the power to change it.

 

So let’s break it down.

How Your Credit Score is Robbing You

What is a Credit Score?

A credit score is a way for lenders to determine your “creditworthiness.” In other words, your “you-can-trust-me-to-pay-back-your-money”-ness.

Because you know whether someone can trust you with their money. But financial institutions don’t know you like you do.

Lenders need a way to decide if you’re safe to lend to. So your score tells them the story of your financial habits.

How Is My Credit Score Calculated?

There are a couple different types of credit scores, but the numbers we’ll use here reflect FICO scores (the most widely used credit score for most lenders).

Credit scores range between 0 and 850. More than 740 is great, and a score of less than 700 begins to limit your options.

This number is calculated by looking at five main pieces of information:

  • Credit mix
  • New Credit
  • Credit History
  • Payment history
  • Amounts owed

Credit Mix

Close to 10% of your score is based on the mix of credit you already have.

Do you have seven credit cards?

Or zero?

Do you have a car payment, a mortgage, student loans, personal loans?

Typically, the more diverse your lines of credit are, the better it is for your score.

New Credit

Around 10% is based on “new credit,” or how often you get credit inquiries or open a new line of credit.

New credit can temporarily lower your score. So for example, if you buy a new car, you’ll probably have trouble securing a loan for a property right away.

Length of Credit History

About 15% of your score is calculated based on how long you’ve had your lines of credit.

If you opened your first line of credit less than 5 years ago, you’ll have a lower score than someone whose credit is 40 years old.

Amounts Owed

These last two categories are the most important. They make up two-thirds of your credit score.

About 30% of your score is determined by something called amounts owed. Amounts owed is about your debt. More specifically, it’s about how much of your available credit you’re using.

For example, let’s say your credit card has a max of $1,000. You buy a new set of tires and brakes, so now you owe $1,000 on your card. You’re using 100% of your $1,000 limit – you’re maxed out.

The story creditors see when they look at you is that you’re not managing your credit well. They’ll assume you won’t manage other loans well either, so you get a lower score.

But let’s look at another situation.

Say you got a different credit card with a max of $5,000. That same borrowed $1,000 has a way different effect on your credit score. You’re only using 20% of your credit line, and you’re leaving 80% at your disposal. Creditors like that story. So you get a higher score.

Payment History

The biggest amount of your score, up to 35%, is based on your payment history.

Payment history is exactly what it sounds like:

  • How are you paying your bills?
  • Do you always pay on time?
  • Have you had any bankruptcies?

Financial institutions can see this information, and it’s the top factor they consider. At the end of the day, lenders want to know: Will you pay them back? On time?

Find out more on how to leverage up your real estate investments on our Youtube channel.

The Cash Flow Company can help you with all real estate investor loans.

We also can help you find and set up real private money from those around your area.

We scour 100’s of loan programs across the country every month locating the best investor friendly loans.

Your score is incredibly important to keep on your radar. Especially when you’re investing in real estate.

 

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Credit Score 101: How Your Credit Score is Robbing You

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How Your Credit Score is Robbing You

Credit Score 101: How Your Credit Score is Robbing You

In this session of Credit Score 101, we’d like to introduce you to Sally Payday and Joe Robber.

Sally Payday is a wonderful guest. When she shows up on your front doorstep, she brings a smile, hug, and a bag of cash with her.

Joe Robber, on the other hand, doesn’t knock. He strolls right inside and steals money out of your wallet. Then takes it and runs!

So, who can you expect a visit from? Sally? Or Joe?

Well, it all depends on what credit score Mr. FICO gives you.

Mr. FICO can be a tough cookie, especially if you:

  • Forget to pay your bills
  • Overuse your credit cards
  • Or don’t use enough credit…meaning, you don’t have enough or any

Believe it or not, having debt can be a good thing. Because when you don’t have any, Mr. FICO doesn’t know you exist. Therefore, he can’t give you a credit score—or he can only give you a low one.

And if you have a low score, then, unfortunately, you can expect a visit from Joe Robber. Because a low score means you pay higher interest rates on your house, car, and other loans.

And if you’re paying higher rates, then Joe gets to take more of your money.

Which makes him a very happy man.

He loves stealing all the cash you could be using to save up for a dream vacation, a healthier lifestyle, or a more comfortable retirement.

Meanwhile, Sally Payday takes a different approach.

She doesn’t like to take money. She likes to make sure it stays in your bank account. But she can only visit people who have good credit scores. Because a good credit score means you pay cheaper rates.

And cheaper rates mean lower bills. Which means you can pay for your trip, gym membership, retirement, or anything else that would make your life better.

Sally Payday and Joe Robber are not one-time visitors. They show up on your doorstep every month.

And every month, Sally brings cash, and Joe steals it.

Which one would you rather welcome into your life?

Because it’s really your choice.

Everyone can have a good credit score. Even if you don’t have one now, it’s within your reach. You don’t need to keep letting Joe in the house. And Sally’s just standing there on the sidewalk, ready to present you with a bag of cash.

Want to find out how you can raise your score? Check out some of our other videos on our Youtube channel.

You can also join our live series How to Invest in Real Estate. Every Thursday at 11 AM MST, real estate expert, Mike Bonn answers all of your questions and shares expert tips on improving your credit score, investing in real estate, and building a comfortable retirement.

Happy investing!

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